Sumatra 1804 4 keping
The first specimen was lot 1581 in Ponterio sale 173 (New York, January 2013), where it sold for $999. The catalog description[1] noted, "NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES. Sumatra. East India Company. 4 Keping, 1804. Thick flan. Very attractive. NGC PROOF-65 BN. From the Sanjay Gandhi Collection." The second specimen was lot 52427 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $7,800. The catalog description[2] noted, "MALAYA. British East India Company. Gilt Copper 4 Kepings, AH 1219/1804. Birmingham (Soho) Mint. NGC PROOF-65 Cameo. The sole finest Gilt Proof certified by NGC, this wonderful specimen delivers a rich luster and sharp cameo contrast. A piece that delivers an intensity of eye appeal, and one for which we expect much competition." The British East India Company held trading stations on the island of Sumatra for decades prior to the Napoleonic Wars. At the Vienna Congress in 1815, the British surrendered all their holdings in Indonesia to the Dutch in exchange for a free hand in Malaya and Singapore. This type was struck in 1804 along with keping and two kepings. The second specimen is a later restrike in gilt copper. A thin planchet variety (KM 267) exists and is more common.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 12.8 g, copper.
Catalog reference: KM-266; Prid-4; SS-5.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Passon, Tom, Catalogus van de Munten van de Nederlandse Gebieden Overzee, vanaf 1601 tot heden, Apeldoorn, Netherlands, 2022.
- Scholten, C., The Coins of the Dutch Overseas Territories, 1601-1948, Amsterdam: Jacques Schulman, 1953.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio Sale 173: The January NYINC 2013 Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2012.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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